- WEDNESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) — The spiritual effects of a
substance in “sacred mushrooms” can last more than a year, Johns Hopkins
researchers claim.

The scientists said their investigations may lead to new ways to help
people with conditions such as cancer, depression and drug dependence.

In a previous study, the researchers gave psilocybin to 36 healthy,
well-educated volunteers with active spiritual lives. After taking the
substance under controlled conditions, 60 percent of the participants
reported have a “full mystical experience.”

When the researchers checked with the volunteers 14 months later, the
same percentage said taking psilocybin increased their sense of well-being
or life satisfaction.

“Most of the volunteers looked back on their experience up to 14 months
later and rated it as the most, or one of the five most, personally
meaningful and spiritually significant of their lives,” lead investigator
Roland Griffiths, a professor in the departments of psychiatry and
behavioral sciences and neuroscience, said in a prepared statement.

The study was published in the current issue of the Journal of
Psychopharmacology.

“This is truly remarkable finding, “Griffiths said. “Rarely in
psychological research do we see such persistently positive reports from a
single event in the laboratory. This gives credence to claims that the
mystical-type experiences some people have during hallucinogen sessions
may help patients suffering from cancer-related anxiety or depression, and
may serve as a potential treatment for drug dependence. We're eager to
move ahead with that research.”

He noted that while some of the volunteers “reported strong fear or
anxiety for a portion of their day-long psilocybin sessions, none reported
any lingering harmful effects, and we didn't observe any clinical evidence
of harm.”

However, if hallucinogens are used in poorly supervised settings, the
possible fear or anxiety responses could lead to harmful behaviors,
Griffiths warned.

More information

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about hallucinogens.